Universal sandal for footwear



'16, 1931. J, BENNETT 1,810,514

UNIVERSAL SANDAL FOR FOOTWEAR Filed June 29, 1929 Invenzor:

WELZie-rJBenfl/e Mys.

Patented June 16,1931

WALTER J. BENNETT, OF HUDSON, MASSACHUSETTS UNIVERSAL SANDAL FOR FOOTWEAR Application filed June 29,

My invention aims to provide a novel article of footwear inthe shape of a universal sandal, that is to say, a sandal that is elastic throughout and adapted by reason of its elas .ticltyto be applied to and to fit a shoe of any size, width and shape. My invention also contemplates asandal that is so soft and collapsible as to make possible its collapse or folding into a form and of such dimensions as to permit a pair to be conveniently carried ina small bag or even a purse;

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a sandal embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 shows thesandal in perspective;

Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the sole; and

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the capacity of the sandal shown for compact folding for carriage when not in use. 7

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative sandal comprises a forepart sole 1 from which rise the low sides 2, the toe or tip portion 3, and the waist portion 4, the latter merging into or having attached to it the strap portions 5 provided at their extremities with suitable fastening means shown as a conventional ball and socket fastener ,6, the socket member of which alone appears in full lines.

My improved sandal is made of elastic rubber or suitable material throughout; that is to say, in every part, including the sole, waist and strap portions particularly, but not exclusively, the material of the sandal has marked capacity for stretchability or conformability.

My sandal will be molded or made up in the first instance of desired shape and of a size and width to fit snugly the smallest article of footwear to which it is contemplated the sandal shall be fitted, but, by reason of its elasticity, the sandal is universal in the sense that it may be readily stretched for application to a shoe or article of footwear of any size, width or shape, and the elastic straps 5 by reason of their capacity to stretch may be drawn across an instep of any height and stretched sufficiently to render the ends of the straps easily engaged'and fastened by finger manipulation so as to hold the sandal firmly in position upon the shoe and to draw the rear 1929. Serial No. 374,801.

margin 7 tightly against the rear end of the forepart or the forward end of the shank of the shoe to prevent entrance of water or moisture in that vicinity to work between the shoe and the sandal. The tight fit of the sandal around the Waist of the foot also serves to hold the sandal well'up on the sides of the forepart of the shoe and firmly in position v upon the shoe while the wearer is walking or'while the shoe is being flexed or deformed under any conditions whatsoever.

The elastic straps 5, it will be observed, are of substantially equal length whereby the fastening 6 is brought to a central position,

an important advantage being that applying the sandal to the wearer by drawing the two strap ends forward about and over the ankle, exerts a light draft upon the two sides of the sandal, closing the latter in, upon and about the shank and instep portion of the shoe and ankle, thus to avoid any tendency to twist the thin sandal upon the shoe.

In the preferred form of my invention shown in the drawings, the sandal proper comprises but two blanks of rubber secured 7 marginally as shown, these two parts consisting respectively, of the fore-sole 1, and the upper comprising the shoe upper embracing side walls 2, the toe cap 3, the instep embracing body portion 4, and the strap portions forming extensions of the side walls 2 and instep embracing body 4, to which the complementary parts of the conventional fastener 6 are secured in any known manner preventing their pulling out of the rubber. Reinforcement of the edges of the upper is preferably provided by folding over and securing said edges as shown in Fig. 1, which shows the edges of the upper folded inwardly to form the reinforced elastic margin 7 extending continuously about the entire edge of the upper including the elastic straps.

This preferred construction ofthe sandal not only contributes to the cheapness and facility of manufacture, but produces a sandal having a reinforced edge preventing tearing 1 under tension, a reinforced lap-rib extending longitudinally of the underside of the instep embracing portion 4, and double thickness walls at the juncture of the sole 1 with the upper, where the walls, being stretched over the edge of the sole of the shoe,

are most subject to wear, so that it additionally produces a sandal having assembly-provided reinforcing areas where most ,needed to provide for wear and for a snug 'fit of the sandal. Inbuilding the sandal according to this preferred embodiment the securing 0f the lapped and folded edges may of course be effected in any conventional manner, as by cementing, vulcanizing or the like. It will be observed that the fore-sole 1- overlaps the upper-blank substantially where the inste embracing body portion of the'sandal IdJOlI1S the sole portion thereof, and that this portion, which is overlapped to a greater extent than the marginal edges where the sole is attached to the shoe upper embracing side Walls 2, preferably has its greatest overlap at the center portion of the underside of the instep embracing body portion. Thisconstruction acts With the intra-joining lap seam of the upper-blank to reinforce the sandal at the point of triple connection of the blank both against tearing strain and Wear.

In its simplest form the sandal is particularly useful as an emergency article of footwear rather than for extended wear, hence for convenience and comformability as well as stretchability the sole 1 is made as a con;

tinuous, thin sheet of rubber ample for pro Having described one embodiment of my invention, what I claim is An all elastic sandal of the class described I joined bya lap-seam at the under side of its instep embracing body portion, and said firstv blank bein joined to said intra-lapped second blank y a continuous lap-seam thereof of greater overlap at the underside of said instep embracing body portion than around said shoe upper embracing side Walls, said overlap at the underside of said instep em bracing body portion being greatest at said intra-joined' lap-seam, thus strengthening said sandal with assembly-produced reinforcing areas marginally of the sole andat the underside of the instep embracing portion thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WALTER J. BENNETT.

have been provided with the customary linings with which rubber footwear is ordinarily provided and which do not permit of that degree of elasticity, flexibility and stretchability that is essential to a sandal of my invention. Such sandals of the prior art are required to be made in different sizes to fit different sizes or widths of footwear, whereas a sandal of my invention may be made upon a production basis of a single minimum size, and by reason of its inherent elasticity throughout may be sold at a' minimum price forapplication to shoes or articles of footwear of any desired size, width and shape.

By reason of these qualities of universal elasticity and conformability which are commonly associated With a sandal of extreme thinness throughout the latter, the sandal may be folded, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to dimensions that will permit it to be carried in a purse or small hand-bag. 

